Going on holiday and can’t bring your dog? Well, you may feel anxious about leaving your furry child in someone else's care.

There are many options you may have stumbled upon, but we recommend dog boarding. It's a way for your dog to have their own holiday while you are away from home too. So, as a pet parent, you need to know how to find the best boarding kennel for your dog.

Wondering how to find the best dog boarding kennel near you? — keep reading!

- What are dog boarding kennels? -

Dog boarding kennels provide supervised care for your dog at a designated facility. Most boarding kennels generally house dogs but some may also have a cattery on site. This can be really convenient for owners with dogs and cats from the same household, although they will be boarded separately. 

In good boarding kennels, your dog will have plenty of space to move around, have a quiet place to sleep, and be given fresh food and water. The cost of boarding kennels varies depending on the location, size, duration of stay, and pet amenities offered

- Finding the right dog boarding kennel - 

Many pet parents dread boarding their dogs, but a boarding kennel stay is often an exciting experience for dogs, with comfy beds, regular grooming, agility equipment, and many other amenities.

Let's learn how to find the right boarding kennel to ensure that your dog has a healthy, relaxed, and satisfied stay at a boarding kennel. 

Research boarding kennels 

Ask your colleagues and friends where their dogs stay when looking for pet boarding options. You will get some recommendations to begin looking into. Be sure to research online to find suitable dog boarding kennels.

Talk to them or go and see yourself 

It is always good to call the dog boarding kennel and interact with them. The best boarding kennels should have trained staff that is well-versed in everything related to pets. All of this can be verified by giving them a call and talking to their staff.

Of course, there’s nothing better than seeing the dog boarding kennel in person. You can go to the boarding kennel and look at the facility. It'll help you to assess if they meet the required safety and hygiene standards. Notice if the boarding kennel is clean and smells good.

Check if there's sufficient security to prevent cats and dogs from escaping. Also, observe whether the kennel staff is attentive and caring with the animals. You’ll be able to see where your dog will stay, sleep, play, and get exercise. Your visit will help you determine whether the hotel has the necessary facilities and services.

Narrowing the options 

After getting answers to all your questions, a couple of options will likely stand out. To determine which boarding kennel is suitable for your dog, you must dig a little deeper. Take your tours and allow yourself plenty of time to see each kennel. You may ask some additional questions you have.

Look at online reviews for the dog boarding kennels you've shortlisted. Also, pay attention to the behaviour of residing animals – Do they seem happy and content, or overly stressed or anxious?

Ask about their dog routine

Talk to the dog boarding kennel staff and ask about the schedule. Make sure their dog routine will work with your dog’s unique needs. Here are a few things that you should ask from the dog boarding kennel staff:

• Feeding hours or meal times
• What sort of food they’re going to feed? We believe it's better to hand them your dog food to avoid any diet changes for your dog.
• Do they take the dogs out for exercise or activity sessions?
• How many pets do they board at a time?
• Do they offer playtime with dogs and supervise them during playtime?
• What sort of nighttime routine do they have? 
• What's included in the dog’s kennel to help them sleep comfortably?

Know their requirements 

You must confirm with the dog boarding kennel their health requirements for every dog entering the facility. Before you check in your dog at a dog boarding kennel, you should submit your dog's vaccination and health records. 

A dog boarding kennel asking potential customers for health records ensures that your dog will be safe there and won’t get infected by other dogs. 

Schedule a trial run

When you have finally selected what you believe is the best boarding kennel option for your dog, it’s time to schedule a trial run to see what your pet thinks! You will probably need to fill out an application and provide your dog's vaccination records. Boarding kennel staff might also ask you to schedule an animal behaviour assessment so that they get to know your dog’s likes and dislikes.

If this is your dog’s first time boarding, start by scheduling a one-night visit. 

These trial runs allow you to observe your dog’s behaviour when they return from boarding and how they react when you take them back to the boarding kennel for return visits.

- Final thoughts - 

It's best to book ahead for the boarding kennels as good kennels mostly fill up weeks to months ahead of time for holidays.

With excellent planning, your furry child can have an incredible boarding experience. Taking the time to find a dog boarding kennel you trust will make all the difference.

Is there anything else we should consider when finding a good dog boarding kennel? Let us know in the comments below! We would be happy to hear from you!